RAIC Life Membership – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

RAIC Life Membership is one of the Institute’s highest honours. It recognizes full members who have demonstrated exceptional, sustained, and long-standing contributions to the RAIC and to the architectural profession.

Recipients are acknowledged for their leadership, service, and impact, and for advancing the values of the RAIC, including mentorship and equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Life Members:

• Retain all benefits and privileges of full RAIC membership
• Are exempt from paying future membership dues
• Receive formal recognition, including a certificate presented at an RAIC event
• May be invited to contribute to mentorship and leadership initiatives

The Life Membership category has been updated to introduce a new nomination process. Key changes include:

• A clear policy framework
• New eligibility and assessment criteria
• A structured nomination and review process
• Stronger governance and conflict-of-interest protocols

These changes ensure that Life Membership is awarded consistently, transparently, and in alignment with the RAIC’s strategic priorities.

To be eligible, a nominee must:

• Be a Full Member of the RAIC in good standing; and have made distinguished and sustained contributions to the RAIC and the architectural profession

The Board may also consider exceptional contributions that demonstrate significant impact.

Nominees are assessed based on:

• Leadership and service to the RAIC or allied organizations
• Commitment to ethical standards and the RAIC Code of Conduct
• Contributions to advancing the profession (practice, education, research, advocacy)
• Support for equity, diversity, and inclusion
• Long-term influence, mentorship, and legacy

No. Life Membership is intended to recognize individuals during their lifetime.

Any RAIC member in good standing may submit a nomination.

A complete nomination must include:

• A completed nomination form
• A biography (maximum two pages)
• A letter of support from the nominator
• Letters from at least four additional RAIC members

Each supporting member may only support one nomination per year.

All nominations must be submitted through the RAIC Award Force platform.

The RAIC Board of Directors is solely responsible for reviewing nominations and conferring Life Membership.

Life Membership requires unanimous approval by the Board of Directors.

• A maximum of three recipients per year
• The Board may choose not to confer any awards in a given year

Board members must declare any real, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from discussion and decision-making related to the nomination.

All conflicts and recusals are formally documented to ensure transparency and accountability.